Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced a new plan to address hazardous cladding on high-rise buildings in England, ensuring government-funded projects are fixed by 2029.
This pledge comes over seven years after the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people and highlighted the dangers of flammable building materials.
Key Plan Details
The plan focuses on buildings taller than 18 meters with unsafe cladding, which must be remediated by 2029.
Freeholders who fail to act will face penalties. Buildings between 11 and 18 meters will also be prioritised, with remediation to be completed or scheduled by 2029, or landlords will face fines.
Campaigners’ concerns
Some groups, like the End Our Cladding Scandal campaign, argue the plan is insufficient. While they welcome the government’s acknowledgement, they worry the plan introduces unnecessary bureaucracy without effectively addressing residents’ needs.
Financial protection for residents
The government aims to protect residents from the financial burden of remediation by pressuring developers to speed up efforts.
Local authorities, fire services, and safety regulators will collaborate to ensure more efficient completion. The goal is to review 95 per cent of buildings taller than 11 meters by the end of next year.
Concerns over slow progress
Despite the government’s efforts, there are concerns about the pace of action. Only 30 per cent of at-risk buildings have been remediated, with thousands still vulnerable.
Residents in unsafe buildings have faced safety risks, rising insurance premiums, and property difficulties. Campaigners estimate that 11,000 buildings taller than 11 meters may still be at risk from combustible cladding.
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